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When Kristal Kirksey first opened Jubilee three decades ago, the historic 19th Street in the Houston Heights looked a little different.
She said it was a lot funkier, everyone knew each other and that each store was individually owned.
What they offer
While some of Jubilee’s merchandise has changed, the spirit of the store and the name behind the brand have stayed the same. Kirksey said Jubilee was always meant to be a fun experience because shopping is a light-hearted activity.
“We always wanted it to be a fun store, hence the name Jubilee,” Kirksey said. “We never wanted to take ourselves too seriously, and we're like, ‘if you don't have a sense of humor, don't come in.’”
Nowadays, when customers walk into Jubilee, they can find anything from bright accessories and patterned clothes to home decor and thoughtful gifts.
Kirksey said the store also sells more one-of-a-kind items that employees sew together in the back room.
The approach
Over the past decade, the Heights has seen both local and national boutiques pop up across the neighborhood, making the industry more competitive.
Kirksey said being aggressive about being different and finding unusual items has been a defining business strategy for the store, along with always maintaining good prices.
“We always cater to working women, and we try to cater to all sizes and ages, where most boutiques only cater to the young and tiny,” she said. “That's never been our philosophy.”
Going forward
Community events are also a huge part of Jubilee’s identity, Kirksey said.
She was a part of the group that originally brought the popular White Linen Night to the Heights and continues to throw public events for the neighborhood, such as a festive Halloween party.
With online shopping changing the nature of the industry, Kirksey remains grateful for her neighborhood’s community and customers who have been showing up consistently for 30 years.
She also said she’s still hopeful for the future of in-person shopping, as she’s noticed people are becoming more prone to trying on clothes or feeling their linens before buying them.
“I'm very lucky that I picked the Heights because this neighborhood is so supportive, and I was always big in the Heights Association and knew all my neighbors and everybody that lived here,” Kirksey said. “I'm really lucky to be a part of a small community.”
